Analysis: Biosecurity the answer for avian influenza

The current strain of avian influenza may be found in wild bird populations around the globe for years, so primary breeders call for heightened biosecurity, recognition of compartmentalization, and geographic dispersion of genetic stock.

Vaccination
to protect flocks in geographic areas in the U.S. hard hit by avian influenza
has been espoused by some poultry veterinarians as an alternative means of
working out of the current disease challenge. There is more support for the
vaccination alternative in the layer and turkey industries than in broilers,
because of these two industries keep their birds longer and tend to have
multi-age farms. Breeder companies see improved biosecurity, rather than
vaccination, as the most effective means of protecting poultry from avian
influenza.

Biosecurity versus vaccination

Jerry Moye,
president, Cobb-Vantress, is not a proponent of vaccination; he thinks enhanced
biosecurity is a better investment for poultry producers. He said: “If it is a
disease that can be eradicated, our choice is always going to be around
managing biosecurity and communicating to growers and team members about the
importance of their role.” The payoff from enhanced biosecurity isn’t just from
avoiding a particular disease; it can also lead to improved bird performance
and food safety. “Biosecurity is the stronger program to build. You may be focused on controlling a specific
disease like mycoplasma with your biosecurity program, but you are going to
have a positive impact on a lot of other diseases and the general health of
your birds,” he said.

Dr. Hellen
Wojcinski, science and sustainability manager for Hybrid Turkeys, which is part
of Hendrix Genetics, said: “Vaccination to provide some protection to valuable
genetic stock may become necessary but regions, such as South America, will not
accept product originating from flocks which have been vaccinated for any type
of influenza. This is not science-based and these restrictions need to be
re-evaluated by the importing countries' veterinary service, otherwise poultry
companies within these areas may be impacted.”

Geographic dispersion of genetic stoc k

The current
outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza that has been spread by migratory
birds from Asia to Europe, North Africa and North America is likely to be
around for at least a few years, according to disease experts. This is the
reality that the world wide poultry industry now faces. Moye said: “We will be
dealing with a population of wild birds in our flyways that have a significant
amount of avian flu in them and we have to ask ourselves how we better prepare
ourselves for alternative sourcing of products so we don’t have interruptions.”

Having
grandparent stock placed around the world is a common strategy of primary
breeders that might be stretched even further in the future. Dr. Travis Schaal,
technical services and regulatory veterinarian, Hy-Line International, said: “Another
potential step is strategic placement of additional breeding stock in
additional locations to help optimize product security and export capabilities.”

Avian influenza and compartmentalization

The concept
of compartmentalization, or establishing that a given operation has taken
biosecurity steps which segregate it from disease challenges that may be
present in its vicinity, seems custom made for the current worldwide avian
influenza challenge. Unfortunately, compartmentalization has not gained much
acceptance by governmental bodies.

Wojcinski
said: “Compartmentalization is still a work in progress with primary breeders
actively moving forward on this initiative. It still requires that trading
partners accept the compartment which would allow genetic stock to both enter
and exit a region where highly pathogenic avian influenza is occurring.”

Dr. Alberto
Torres, export manager, for Cobb-Vantress, said that he has
seen a shift in USDA from being skeptical of the concept of
compartmentalization to the agency becoming an advocate for it. He reports that
breeding companies are still working on a plan with the USDA for establishing
compartments in the U.S. Torres said that they are probably still a year away
from when companies can apply to have operations recognized as compartments.